The S/Y Polonus, which remains at our association’s disposal, will serve as the expedition’s flagship. She is a Bruceo 44 steel ketch with 860 square feet sail area. Her home port is Szczecin.
The S/Y Polonus proved its merits in several demanding voyages including:
- Svalbard (Spitsbergen) in 2008
- around Iceland in 2010
- „In the wake of S/Y Śmiały” in 2011/2012 – on the Atlantic Ocean from Greenland to the Antarctic and along the Pacific coast of Southern America
The last voyage was honoured with the „Golden Omega” and „Event of the Year” by the Sailing Association of Wielkopolska. It was also nominated for the Polish „Voyage of the Year” award.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: LOA = 13.4 m, B = 3.9 m, D = 1.8 m
- Sail area: ketch, 860 square feet
- Hull material: steel
- Built in 1991
- Berths: 8 plus an additional berth in the saloon (one of which will be occupied by the yacht’s bosun)
- Engine: Leyland, 78.4 HP
- Water/Fuel tank: 1200/450 litres
Navigational equipment:
- GPS-plotter with maps covering the expeditions (C-Map NT Max)
- Radar (with plotter overlay)
- Iridium satellite phone
- Built-in VHF radio with DSC
- Portable VHF
- NAVTEX receiver
- AIS
- Three independent GPS-receivers
- Satellite compass
- Magnetic compass (at the helm)
- Anemometer
- Depth sounder
- Echopilot (sounder with 3d imaging)
- Mechanical log
- Computer with all necessary maps
- Paper maps for all planned passages and detailed maps of all scheduled ports of call
- Tidal atlas
- Nautic pilots (NGA)
Safety equipment:
- Lifelines
- Safety harnesses with tethers and carabiners
- Two liferings with lines and lights
- Required pyrotechnics
- Additional signal gun
- EPIRB
- Liferaft for 12 people
The galley allows for cooking even in harsh conditions. The gimball swinging two burner propane stove with oven makes cooking possible even on a 50 degrees heel (if the cook can take it). The galley is equipped for full cooking and dining six and features also a built in refrigerator.